Novelty air guitar

ABSTRACT

A novelty air guitar includes a housing and a strum zone. The housing has an exterior shape that is shaped like a guitar, including a head at a top end of the housing, a body section at the bottom end of the housing and a neck positioned between the top and bottom ends coupling the head and body together. A strum zone is positioned on a front side of the housing in the body section. The strum zone is an indented portion on the front side of the guitar that provides a place for a user to strum the guitar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/540,870, filed on Aug. 3, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This invention concerns a novelty air guitar.

BACKGROUND

Air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which the performer pretends to play an imaginary guitar. Playing air guitar usually consists of exaggerated strumming and picking motions and is often coupled with lip-synching or singing. An air guitar is typically an imaginary simulation of loud electric or acoustic guitar movement. Playing of an air guitar does not typically involve the use of an instrument.

There have been known to be inflatable guitars that can be used to play “air guitar.” Examples can be purchased from Oriental Trading Company. These inflatable guitars involve a simple inflatable plastic sheet bladder with art work printed on the exterior. There are also other “air guitars” that comprise only the neck of the guitar. The Shredneck P-51 is a practice guitar with a neck and head that includes strings that a user can play. Several manufacturer's sell an Infrared Air Guitar, which is a musical toy that includes the head and a small portion of the neck of a guitar and has an infrared sensor that can detect hand motions. The user presses buttons to play chords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an air guitar according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left-side view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top end view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom end view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is another perspective front view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the head of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a rear side of the neck of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is another rear perspective view of the example guitar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a rear side of the neck of the example guitar of FIG. 1 showing the knob for attaching a strap;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a front side of the body of the example guitar of FIG. 1 at the bottom end of the body showing the knob that is used to attach a strap; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a front side of the body of the example guitar of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns a novelty air guitar 10 that has a physical, life-size guitar form that permits a user to play the “guitar” without having to use an imaginary guitar. The novelty air guitar 10 of the present invention differs from a conventional guitar in that it doesn't have any strings, electronics, or other functional features other than a hard, plastic shell. The novelty air guitar 10 (hereinafter referred to as “the example guitar” or “the guitar”) of the present invention may be made solid or hollow. It is formed of a hard, plastic material that permits it to easily stand up as a novelty item to be displayed in one's bar or man-cave, for example. Because the example guitar 10 is made of a hard, plastic material, it more closely resembles a real guitar, even though it has none of the functional features of a real guitar. Also, the plastic shell permits it to be possible to mold features into the guitar 10, such as fake plastic strings 12, tuning knobs 14, strap holding knobs 16, and indicia or artwork 18 of any form.

The guitar is generally light weight and permits a user to easily pick up, carry, and “play” the guitar 10. The guitar 10 includes a body 20 at the bottom end, a head 22 at the top end, and a neck 24 between the head 22 and the body 20. The body 20 of the guitar 10 may be hollow while the fingerboard and head 22 may be solid. Alternatively, the entire guitar 10 may be hollow or solid. If hollow, the guitar 10 may have openings in the body 20 and/or elsewhere, if desired, into the interior of the guitar 10.

Because the guitar 10 is molded of a hard-plastic material, fake features such as tuning keys 14, frets, fingerboard, sound hole, saddle, and bridge, among other known features, may be molded into the guitar 10. While all these parts are non-functional, they give the example guitar 10 a realistic look and feel.

The example guitar 10 also includes a strum zone 30. The strum zone 30 is an indented portion on the front side of the body 20 that permits a user to put their fingers in this zone and act like they are strumming the guitar 10. The strum zone 30 simulates the area on the guitar 10 where a user would strum the guitar 10, which is in the vicinity of the sound hole in an acoustic guitar and is between the pickups on an electric guitar. The strum zone 30 may have different shapes, but one shape is a crescent shape or a curved shape. Since a user will typically strum a guitar in a curved pattern on the face of the guitar in the sound hole or pick guard area of the guitar, the strum zone 30 provides the user with a place to place their fingers during strumming. This helps to guide the user's fingers into the proper position on the guitar 10, even though strings and other feature are not actually present, making the playing of the example guitar 10 more realistic-looking.

The crescent shape of the strum zone 30 has a direction that faces away from the neck 24 of the guitar 10 and opens toward the bottom end of the guitar 10. Other shapes could be provided, if desired, for the strum zone 30. The strum zone 30 includes beveled side surfaces 32 that lead to a flat bottom surface 34 of the strum zone 30. The flat bottom surface 34 of the strum zone 30 is the deepest part of the strum zone 30. While the strum zone 30 can have any depth desired, several possible depths include ¼″, ⅛″, ⅜″ or ½″. Other shapes and sizes for the strum zone 30 may be utilized. If desired, the strum zone 30 could be all one depth instead of having beveled outer surfaces 32, in which case the strum zone would have perpendicular side surfaces.

The example guitar 10 includes strap knobs 16 that permit the attachment of a guitar strap. The guitar strap is sized to fit over a user's head and shoulder in a conventional manner and may be adjustable in length. A strap is not shown, but can be connected to the knobs 16 to allow a user to rest the guitar strap around the user's body, making it even more realistic when the user strums the guitar 10. Knobs 16 are shown attached to a rear side of the example guitar 10 where the neck 24 attaches to the body 20, and at the bottom end of the body 20. The knobs 16 can be molded into the design during the manufacturing process, or can be attached as separate parts. If attached as separate parts, the guitar 10 can include recesses for accepting the knobs 16 therein. For example, the knobs 16 can be designed to snap into recesses in a permanent manner. Knobs 16 are shown for connection of a strap, but other attachment means may be used, as known by those of skill in the art, if desired, the invention not being limited to knobs 16 for attachment means.

The example guitar 10 may be formed in any desirable shape. For example, an acoustic guitar shape may be used, or an electric guitar shape may be used. There are many different shapes and sizes for guitars, and any desirable shape or size may be used for the example guitar 10.

Slogans and logos and artwork may be applied to the guitar 10, either as molded in features or via a sticker, ink, or other application of artwork to the guitar 10. As shown, the rear side of the neck 24 may include a slogan 26, such as “Born in Cleveland—The Home of Rock and Roll”. The slogans 26 may be used to personalize the guitar 10 to different venues, states, areas, groups, or otherwise. The guitar 10 shown in the figures also includes an image or artwork 28 of the state of Ohio on the rear side of the body 20, which is the location for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition, the tradename 36 of the product may be displayed on the product, such as shown on the head 22 of the guitar 10 in the attached images. Indicia and artwork may be positioned in other locations, other than those shown, if desired.

The guitar 10 can be personalized as desired. For example, there are several notable places on the guitar 10 that are conducive to personalization. One area is on the rear of the neck 24, where the wording 26 is presently located. Another area is in the center of the back side of the body 20, where the image of the State of Ohio 28 is located. The mold can be set up to permit the insertion of inserts that can be used to personalize wording 26 and artwork 28 on the guitar 10. In addition, if no personalization is desired, inserts can be used to make an area on the guitar blank. At present there are two areas where the guitar 10 can be personalized, including the rear of the neck 24 and at the location where the State of Ohio is presently imprinted. In one embodiment, the wording 26 and artwork 28 are raised above the surface of the guitar 10. They may alternatively be indented.

The guitar 10 may include additional areas for personalization, including a frosted area 38, such as shown on the rear of the guitar 10 in FIGS. 9 and 12. This area is conducive to further personalization. For example, this area 38, because of the frosting on the surface, will easily accept a signature with a felt tip or other writing instrument. The guitar 10 can, thus, be used as a memorabilia item where an artist signs the rear of the guitar 10. Other areas on the guitar 10 may be frosted, if desired, for personalization.

In one embodiment, the guitar 10 is hollow and has a wall thickness of approximately 0.09 inches. Other wall thicknesses may also be utilized, such as about 0.08″, 0.1″, 0.12″, 0.15″, 0.2″ and the like. Different parts of the guitar 10 may have different thicknesses than other parts of the guitar 10. For example, it may be advantageous to make part of all of the neck area 24 or head area 22 of the guitar 10 thicker to permit a user to grab the guitar 10 by the head 22. The thicker head 22 permits the user to grab the guitar 10 by the head 22 while the remainder of the body 20 of the guitar 10 does not flex or break under the weight of the guitar 10.

The guitar 10 may have openings 40 in the exterior surface thereof to further make it more realistic looking. These holes 40 could be used to help sound resonate from the openings 40 when a user taps on the guitar 10. Holes 40 are shown near the bottom end of the body 20 of the guitar 10 on a front side thereof.

Non-functional strings 12 may be molded into the neck 24 and body 20 of the guitar 10 to simulate a real guitar. Strings 12 are not typically molded into the strum zone 30 since that area remains smooth to allow a user's hand to easily move in that area to simulate strumming the guitar 10. Molded strings 12 could be provided in the strum zone 30, however, if desired.

One type of material that may be used to form the example guitar 10 is ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), such as clear ABS. Clear ABS is substantially see-through and transparent. This could permit for artwork to be presented inside the chamber of the guitar 10, when the guitar 10 is hollow, or for items to be put inside the guitar 10 when hollow and still be seen from the exterior even though they are inside the body 20 of the guitar 10. While clear ABS is a desirable material, other material types and colors may be used, such as other thermoplastics and amorphous polymers, among other polymers. Other materials may also be used to form the guitar 10, as known by those of skill in the art. Solid and opaque materials could also be used to provide the guitar 10 with some color and lack of transparency.

The guitar 10 may be formed by injection molding, blow molding, or other techniques. The guitar 10 may be formed in parts and secured together by welding or glue, if desired. In one manufacturing process where clear ABS is utilized as the material for the guitar 10, two separate sections of the guitar 10 are molded using injection molding, including a front section and a rear section. Then a clear adhesive is used to couple the front and rear sections together around the perimeter thereof. The adhesive may be cured by UV light to make the adhesive clear and unnoticeable. Curing of the adhesive also renders it stronger than uncured adhesive. Care must be taken during assembly of the product to not introduce debris, dirt or smudges into the interior of the guitar 10.

Where non-clear ABS is utilized, the guitar 10 is manufactured in the same way by molding a front and a rear section. Then other types of adhesive may be utilized, if desired, or curable clear adhesive may be utilized.

One example of the guitar 10 weighs about 2.2 lbs. Another example weighs about 3 lbs. Yet another example weights about 2 lbs.

The example guitar 10 shown is left and right symmetrical. This allows the guitar 10 to be “played” by both a left-handed user and a right-handed user. Other designs for the shape could be used, including those that are not symmetrical.

The strap may be designed such that the logo of the guitar 10 is clearly visible on the chest of a user when the strap is installed around a user's head and shoulder. The frosted sections 38 of the guitar 10 can also be created with inserts that are removable, so that the same mold can be used to make both non-frosted sections of the guitar 10 and frosted sections 38 of the guitar 10. The frosting 38 may be created in the mold or in an insert by fine etching.

The head 22 of the guitar 10 on a rear side thereof, shown best in FIGS. 1 and 9, depicts a notch 42 that is shaped somewhat like an arrow-head. This notch 42 permits portions of the head 22 to be made thicker to strengthen the head/neck 22, 24 connection and to permit the guitar 10 to be held/lifted by the head 22 without breaking. Other ways to strengthen the head/neck 22, 24 can also be utilized, as known by those of skill in the art.

The guitar 10 can be personalized for particular artists, venues, stores, museums and the like, utilized the inserts discussed above.

In one embodiment of the invention, a novelty air guitar 10 includes a housing 20, 22, 24 and a strum zone 30. The housing 20, 22, 24 has an exterior shape that is shaped like a guitar 10, including a head 22 at a top end of the housing, a body section 20 at the bottom end of the housing and a neck 24 positioned between the top and bottom ends coupling the head 22 and body 20 together. The strum zone 30 is positioned on a front side of the housing in the body section 20, with the strum zone 30 being an indented portion on the front side of the guitar 10 that provides a place for a user to strum the guitar 10.

The strum zone 30 may be crescent-shaped or half-moon shaped. The open side of the crescent or moon shape may face the bottom end of the guitar 10. The strum zone 30 may have a depth of about ¼″ or ½″. The strum zone 30 may have a flat bottom section 34 representing a maximum depth of the strum zone 30, and beveled side surfaces 32 that couple the flat bottom 34 surface to the surface of the body 20 of the guitar 10.

The air guitar 10 may also include a slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 applied to the neck section 24 of the guitar 10. The slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 may be molded into a rear side of the neck 24 and pretend strings 12 may be molded into the front side of the neck 24. The air guitar 10 may also include a slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 applied to the head section 22 of the guitar 10. The slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 may be molded into one or both of the front and rear sides of the head 22. The air guitar 10 may also include a slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 applied to the body section 20 of the guitar 10. The slogan, logo, or artwork 26, 28 may be molded into one or both of the front and rear sides of the body 20.

The air guitar 10 may also include a frosting surface treatment 38 applied to at least part of the exterior of one or more of the body 20, neck 24 and head 22 of the guitar 10. The air guitar 10 may be formed of a transparent or opaque hard plastic material. Strap attachment points or knobs 16 may be coupled to the housing 20, 22, 24 and a strap attached to the attachment points 16.

The housing 20, 22, 24 may have a hollow interior. One or more apertures 40 may be formed in the housing 20, 22, 24 providing access to the hollow interior. The housing 20, 22, 24 may be hollow, having a wall thickness, with the wall thickness of at least part of the head 22 being thicker than a wall thickness of the body 20.

In another embodiment, a method of making a customizable air guitar 10 includes forming a front portion of the air guitar 10 in a mold by injection molding, with the front portion having an outer perimeter. Forming a rear portion of the air guitar 10 in a mold by injection molding, with the rear portion having an outer perimeter and with the rear portion of the mold having removable and replaceable inserts for providing molded-in customized slogans, logos, or artwork 26, 28 on a surface of the guitar 10. Applying an adhesive between the outer perimeter of the front and rear portions to couple the front and rear portions together to provide a hollow air guitar 10.

In another embodiment, a novelty air guitar 10 that can be used for autographs includes a housing 20, 22, 24 and a frosted portion 38. The housing 20, 22, 24 has an exterior shape that is shaped like a guitar 10, including a head 22 at a top end of the housing, a body 20 at the bottom end of the housing and a neck 24 positioned between the top and bottom ends coupling the head 22 and body 20 together. The frosted portion 38 is positioned on an exterior surface of the housing. The frosted portion 38 is conducive to accepting autographs. The housing 20, 22, 24 is formed of a hard plastic material and the frosted portion 38 is etched into the surface of the hard plastic material.

The term “substantially,” as used herein, is a term of estimation.

While various features are presented above, it should be understood that the features may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the claimed examples pertain. The examples described herein are exemplary. The disclosure may enable those skilled in the art to make and use alternative designs having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements recited in the claims. The intended scope may thus include other examples that do not differ or that insubstantially differ from the literal language of the claims. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A novelty air guitar comprising: a housing having an exterior shape that is shaped like a guitar, including a head at a top end of the housing, a body section at the bottom end of the housing and a neck positioned between the top and bottom ends coupling the head and body together; and a strum zone positioned on a front side of the housing in the body section, with the strum zone being an indented portion on the front side of the guitar that provides a place for a user to strum the guitar.
 2. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the strum zone is crescent-shaped or half-moon shaped.
 3. The air guitar of claim 2, wherein the open side of the crescent or moon shape faces the bottom end of the guitar.
 4. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the strum zone has a depth of about ¼″ or ½.
 5. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the strum zone has a flat bottom section representing a maximum depth of the strum zone, and beveled side surfaces that couple the flat bottom surface to the surface of the body of the guitar.
 6. The air guitar of claim 1, further comprising a slogan, logo, or artwork applied to the neck section of the guitar.
 7. The air guitar of claim 6, wherein the slogan, logo, or artwork is molded into a rear side of the neck and pretend strings are molded into the front side of the neck.
 8. The air guitar of claim 1, further comprising a slogan, logo, or artwork applied to the head section of the guitar.
 9. The air guitar of claim 8, wherein the slogan, logo, or artwork is molded into one or both of the front and rear sides of the head.
 10. The air guitar of claim 1, further comprising a slogan, logo, or artwork applied to the body section of the guitar.
 11. The air guitar of claim 10, wherein the slogan, logo, or artwork is molded into one or both of the front and rear sides of the body.
 12. The air guitar of claim 1, further comprising a frosting surface treatment applied to at least part of the exterior of one or more of the body, neck and head of the guitar.
 13. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the guitar is formed of a transparent or opaque hard plastic material.
 14. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the housing has a hollow interior.
 15. The air guitar of claim 14, further comprising one or more apertures formed in the housing providing access to the hollow interior.
 16. The air guitar of claim 1, further comprising strap attachment points coupled to the housing and a strap attached to the attachment points.
 17. The air guitar of claim 1, wherein the housing is hollow and has a wall thickness, with the wall thickness of at least part of the head being thicker than a wall thickness of the body.
 18. A method of making a customizable air guitar according to claim 1 comprising: forming a front portion of the air guitar in a mold by injection molding, with the front portion having an outer perimeter; forming a rear portion of the air guitar in a mold by injection molding, with the rear portion having an outer perimeter and with the rear portion of the mold having removable and replaceable inserts for providing molded-in customized slogans, logos, or artwork on a surface of the guitar; applying an adhesive between the outer perimeter of the front and rear portions to couple the front and rear portions together to provide a hollow air guitar.
 19. A novelty air guitar that can be used for autographs comprising: a housing having an exterior shape that is shaped like a guitar, including a head at a top end of the housing, a body at the bottom end of the housing and a neck positioned between the top and bottom ends coupling the head and body together; and a frosted portion on an exterior surface of the housing, said frosted portion being conducive to accepting autographs, wherein the housing is formed of a hard plastic material and the frosted portion is etched into the surface of the hard plastic material. 